I woke up on a cold, hard floor. I had ropes tying my ankles and my wrists together. I kept my eyes closed and searched the room for chakra signatures.

One…Two…Just two.

I shifted a bit. "I see you are awake." I nodded but kept my eyes closed. "Who are you?"

"My name is Korasu."

"Who sent you to assassinate Sasori?"

"No one." The man in front of me chuckled.

"So, you went after Sasori on your own accord?"

"No."

"What happened to your comrades?"

"I don't have any."

"That's what she told me, Leader." Wait. I'm talking to the head of the Akatsuki and still alive? Damn.

"Then what happened?" He said smugly, like I was caught.

"I was traveling by the trees, escaping Konoha when I heard a twig snap. My paranoia kicked in and I attacked the object. It turned out to be Akasuna Sasori, it's a misunderstanding." I took a deep breath then opened my eyes. "I give you my shinobi honor." I was a little surprised. Their leader, he was a dark, wispy figure of a man with spiky hair. His eyes, they were gray with a rippling effect to them. I thought I knew what they were, but I wasn't sure. I had read tons of books on about everything while I had free time. I just couldn't figure it out… Then it hit me.

"Ren…ne…gan…" I whispered.

"That's right, child." The dark figure chuckled. "I'm sorry for asking but, why were you an outcast in your village?"

"Oh… Well, the villagers said that I was the 'world's downfall' and that I was 'the offspring of evil'…or so some guy says. Um…I think that his name was…eerr…Jiraiya? Some frog dude or something like that… He said that one of his older students was some dipshit and screwed up with something…I don't understand, why should I be punished for some baka's mistake…? I don't-"

"ENOUGH! Nobody needs to hear your background! We do not speak of things of that matter here."

"Um…I'm sorry…" I cannot remember much anyways…

"So…Jiraiya, huh?"

"Yes, Sir." The figure chuckled.

"You have manners I see."

"I do, Sir."

"Do you have any special abilities?"

"Excuse me?"

"Special abilities."

"Um…If you must know… I work with summons a lot, poisons, Um…and…"

"And what?"

"Paper…?"

"Excuse me?"

"Paper, like paper jutsu and shuriken."

"Interesting…" I swallowed audibly. My nerves kicked in and I began to shake. The shadowed man looked over to the dark corner of the room. "You may cut the ropes."

"You don't need to do so." I focused my chakra to the tips of my fingers and cut the ropes. I stood up and tried to clean myself up.

"You could've ran away at any time, why didn't you?" I shrugged.

"It's not Korasu, it's not me. I don't run, I'm a fighter." I ran my fingers through my hair, in an attempt to get some of the knots out. The person that the leader talked to a moment ago stepped out of the shadows.

I looked over to the lady. I gasped in surprise and stepped backwards. I tripped over my own feet and fell onto my butt. "Ow…" I looked up to the lady that was now standing in front of me, holding her hand out. I took her hand and she helped me up.

"Hello there, Korasu." I nodded, confused. "I'm Konan." I stared, thinking. "Is there something wrong?" She asked and I snapped myself out of the trance.

"Oh, uh…No, Ma'am. Wait, maybe, I guess…You just look…familiar… Like I've seen you at a different time and place, I'm sorry. I just was thinking, I guess…" I looked at my feet and began to fidget with the fishnet on my arms.

"It's ok." I looked up to her.

"Good." I blinked and brought my hands up to my eyes and began to rub at them. I hissed in pain through my teeth.

"Are you ok? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm fine. My eyes do this a lot, I'm sorry." I shut my eyes tightly then opened them again. Konan bent down and looked into my eyes. I blinked again. "Um, Sir? I was just wondering, what am I still doing here?"

"Korasu, you are to have a battle with one of my members. That will determine if you live or not. You win, you live and join the Akatsuki. You lose, you die." I nodded my head and rubbed at my eyes again.

"I'm sure it's not good if you keep rubbing at them." Konan lowered my hands.

"What am I to do until the battle starts?" The shadow shrugged.

"Explore, meet the members, if you try to escape, die. Do what you like."

"Is there a training ground somewhere around?"

Konan spoke up. "You're going to have a battle soon, I don't think you should tire yourself." I bit my lip, the urge was coming and I knew it.